TL;DR

To become a passionate software tester, you need to learn new topics and skills on software testing that challenge your intelligence as max as possible. Investing in a smooth path does not pay off in the end. This post is based on a remarkable book written by Chad Fowler, The Passionate Programmer.

Jerry Weinberg said that source code gives answers to how a feature is implemented. It does not answer the question, why was implemented in first place.

Passionate software testers ask a lot of why questions.

I was once at my interview for a freelance software testing position. At the end of my interview, I was asked for a favor to interview a junior software tester. Tester wrote a selenium Javascript that automated several application features and explained how he did the implementation in Java. I asked him why he did that implementation in that particular way By given answers, he proved that he understood the purpose of Selenium. He was hired. That was two years ago. Today I am working for that client, and I overhear, on purpose, this tester’s (not Junior anymore)  conversation with developers. He asks a lot Why question, and that is his passion. He yearns for Selenium with Python. It is an excellent skill addition, but this would not be the reason why he is a passionate tester.

I learned to type with ten fingers, and I know the basic algorithm for solving a Rubik cube. Both those were intellectual challenges, but those made me a better passionate tester.

You can start with problem-solving skills as one possible option to invest in your intelligence. How AI works is also a good option. Enrolling for BBST Foundations instead of ISTQB is also a good option.